In Frankfurt, the Xetra DAXrose 106.60 points, or 1.5 percent, to 7,387.10. In Paris, the CAC 40 added 63.36 points, or 1 percent, to 6,383.65. And in London, the FTSE 100 was the odd man out, dropping 33.30 points to 6,249.70.

The technology-heavy Neuer Markt index of small and medium-sized companies in Germany, meantime, tacked on 150.05 points, or 2.5 percent, to 6,077.07.

In the currency markets, the euro fell to a new low of 96.98 yen in Asia overnight after dipping below 92 cents against the dollar Tuesday amid concern the European Central Bank isn't prepared tosupport the currency. The euro ended the European trading day at 98.15 yen and 92.27 cents on the dollar. Psion, QXL.com in focus

Among the day's big movers, shares of Psion PLC added 426 pence, or 15.1 percent, to 3,249 pence after the U.K. hand-held computer maker said it has licensed its software platform to Sony for use in its next-generation wireless devices.

And in the ad world, shares of world No. 2 advertising company WPP Group
WPPGY, +3.07%
rose 58 pence, or 6.1 percent, to 1,013 pence after it said first quarter revenue rose 20 percent to 558 million pounds ($892.8 million).

Intraday Data provided by SIX Financial Information and subject to terms of use.
Historical and current end-of-day data provided by SIX Financial Information. Intraday data
delayed per exchange requirements. S&P/Dow Jones Indices (SM) from Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
All quotes are in local exchange time. Real time last sale data provided by NASDAQ. More
information on NASDAQ traded symbols and their current financial status. Intraday
data delayed 15 minutes for Nasdaq, and 20 minutes for other exchanges. S&P/Dow Jones Indices (SM)
from Dow Jones & Company, Inc. SEHK intraday data is provided by SIX Financial Information and is
at least 60-minutes delayed. All quotes are in local exchange time.